Oklahoma could start 2024 without one of its greatest playmakers.
OU head coach Brent Venables mentioned on the “Sooner Sports Talk” show on Sunday evening that star wide receiver Nic Anderson has been ” a little limited” at practice and is considered “day-to-day” because of an injury. Venables went on to say Anderson has “a chance” to play in the Sooners’ Week 1 matchup against Temple at 6 p.m. Friday.
“Nic, he’s been a little bit limited,” Venables said. “We feel like he would have a chance to go this weekend.”
OU released its first depth chart of the 2024 season earlier Sunday, and on it, Anderson had an “or” next to his name alongside junior Brenen Thompson. Anderson battling an injury and his status for the season opener not being guaranteed would explain why the Sooners’ best receiver was not alone at the top of the depth chart.
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Anderson, a redshirt sophomore, was projected to be one of the best receivers in the country this seasonafter finding his name on the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, given to college football’s top receiver.
Last season as a freshman, Anderson caught 31 passes for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns while starting in six games. It was one of the best seasons a freshman OU receiver has ever had, with his 10 touchdown catches being the most ever by a Sooner frosh and setting a Big 12 freshman record. His receiving yards were the second most by an OU freshman.
Anderson was named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic and an All-Big 12 honorable mention at the end of last season.
If Anderson misses the opener, it will apparently be Thompson filling in. After mentioning Anderson’s injury Sunday, Venables then raved about Thompson and his speed.
“He’s a legit 10.2 (seconds) 100-meter guy, and he plays really big,” Venables said.
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Thompson, a 5-foot-9 junior, does not have the same size as the 6-4 Anderson, but it seems his speed still makes him a home run threat for the Sooners. He transferred from Texas after the 2022 season before appearing in six games last year for OU. He missed most of the season because of injury.
In those six contests, Thompson caught seven passes for 241 yards and a pair of TDs. He averaged 34.4 yards a catch, proving his big-play capability. His best game came in the Alamo Bowl against Arizona, during which he caught two passes from Jackson Arnold and took one 63 yards into the end zone. His other touchdown was a 53-yarder from Dillon Gabriel against TCU.
At Texas as a freshman, Thompson played in nine games, recording only one 32-yard reception. Before playing for the Longhorns, though, Thompson was an Under Armour All-American. Every major recruiting service ranked him as a top-30 prospect at his position in the 2022 class.
The Sooners are already without Jayden Gibson in the receiver room. He injured his knee during a practice and will miss the entire season. He will now redshirt this year.
“We’ve got one player that won’t be back, and we know that’s Jayden Gibson,” Venables said two weeks ago, confirming the injury.
NORMAN, Okla. — Derrion Reed scored 22 points, Xzayvier Brown finished with 18, and Oklahoma set the program’s single-game record for field-goal percentage on Monday night as the Sooners beat Stetson 107-54 on Monday night.
Oklahoma shot 67.8% (40 of 59) from the field and had its highest-scoring game since a 107-86 win over Arkansan-Pine Bluff on Nov. 30, 2023. The previous record was 66.1% (39 of 59) against Baylor on Feb. 26, 2005.
The Sooners made 12 of 24 from 3-point range, outrebounded Stetson 39-24, and outscored the Hatters 54-18 in the paint.
Mohamed Wague had 15 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma and Tae Davis added 12 points and six assists. Kuol Atak and Nijel Pack each scored 11 points.
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Ethan Copeland, the only Stetson (4-9) player who scored in double figures, had 14 points.
Oklahoma (9-3) used runs of 15-3 and 10-2, the latter of which culminated with a Jadon Jones three-point play that gave the Sooners a 26-11 lead a little more than eight minutes into the game.
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Another offensive lineman from Oklahoma’s heralded 2024 group of freshman has decided to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Third-year sophomore tackle Isaiah Autry-Dent announced Monday on social media that he’ll be entering the portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
“I’m truly grateful for the incredible, life-changing experience I’ve had at the University of Oklahoma,” he wrote. “The dedication of the staff, the camaraderie with my teammates, and the unwavering support from the fans have made this journey unforgettable. I’ve learned lessons on and off the field that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and I’m thankful for every moment, every challenge and every triumph along the way.”
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Dent added that he’s “given it a great deal of thought and prayed for guidance” but intends to leave OU with 3-4 years of eligibility remaining and is “excited about exploring new opportunities to continue growing as a player and as a person.”
After much prayer and family talks, I’ll enter the transfer portal on January 2 with three years of eligibility left. Thank you #SoonerNationpic.twitter.com/AM15EMHlHV
Dent was one of five offensive linemen signed in the 2024 class, and he’s the third one to leave, joining Eugene Brooks and Josh Aisosa. After just two seasons, only Eddy Pierre-Louis and Daniel Akinkunmi remain.
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Dent was listed at 304 pounds as a true freshman but in July checked in at 317 pounds — the biggest overall weight gain of any offensive player, which was a reflection of his hard work and dedication as the OU offensive line made an offseason mandate to get bigger and stronger.
Last spring, senior center Troy Everett was asked to assess Dent’s progress following his freshman season.
“Isaiah works hard,” Everett said. “Isaiah’s going to be great. Isaiah, right now, he’s just got to get comfortable when he’s out there, but that goes for every young guy.”
Read More Transfer Portal News
OU Transfer Portal Tracker Oklahoma LB to Enter Portal What Positions Must Oklahoma Address in the Portal?
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Dent played in just one game — against Maine — and logged just 26 snaps on offense and nine snaps on special teams during the 2024 season, then didn’t get on the field at all in 2025.
The former 3-star prospect from Fulton, MS, is a second cousin to former OU running back Marcus Dupree. His mother, Pashen Dent-Autry, was a two-time national champion basketball player for Tennessee legend Pat Summitt.
Autry was a consensus 3-star prospect coming out as a high school All-American at Itawamba Agricultural High School, where he was a 6-foot-7, 300-pound standout.
Autry picked the Sooners over Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Ole Miss, among others, and could have plenty of options.
The postseason is unique in that way, no matter the sport. It can have a cleansing effect, providing a clean slate.
Maybe that’s what is happening with Alabama. I stand by my column the weekend the College Football Playoff pairings were announced, that Notre Dame deserved a spot over the Crimson Tide, that how a team finishes should matter. Alabama hadn’t been very good to close the regular season. It nearly lost to mediocre SEC opponents South Carolina, LSU and Auburn, fell to Oklahoma and was crushed by Georgia in the SEC championship game.
